1.3 million new car registrations in Europe in September 2020 up 1.1% YoY

New car registrations in the European Union, the UK and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) rose 1.1 per cent year-on-year to 1.3m vehicles in September, the first increase so far this year, according to figures released on Friday by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). But with the surge in new crown cases in several countries, there are concerns about the sustainability of the growth momentum.

The performance of Europe's top five car markets has been mixed, with new car registrations falling in Spain, the UK and France and Italy and Germany increasing.

Major carmakers were also mixed, with Volkswagen's sales up 14.1 per cent and Renault's 8.1 per cent in September, but Peugeot Citroen down 14.1 per cent, BMW down 11.9 per cent and Daimler down 7.7 per cent.

In the first nine months of this year, new car registrations in Europe fell by 29%.